The Dragon (G.O.N.Y. - Double Dragon) (17 page)

“The cancer,” Ramsey stated knowingly.

“Yes, the cancer.”

He nodded. “I’ll find her one of the best.”

“Thank you.”

As she sat there, staring at him, Jezebel couldn’t help but wonder what had been real between them. She didn’t doubt his physical attraction to her. Hell, last night and countless others proved they were sexually drawn to each other. He’d told her he loved her, had insinuated that she was the woman he’d want to make his life with, but Ramsey Stone was a consummate liar.

“Don’t look at me like that, Jezebel.”

She blinked. “What?”

He only smiled. “Don’t look at me like you don’t know me.”

It was her turn to smile. It was forced but she still managed it. “I don’t.” She pushed off the chair, drew up to her full height and faced him. Ramsey lost some of his ease. “I knew an international businessman who gave the best massages. I knew a hardworking man who earned his money the right way: legally. I knew an easygoing masseuse who loved me. I don’t know
you.
” When he only continued to stare at her, his face that calm mask, she bit out, “And I don’t want to.”

She turned and had made it half way across the large office before his low and casual voice halted her. “Do you enjoy lying to yourself, Jezebel?” She didn’t bother turning around, she continued to the door. “Because I suspect you do.” She heard the smile in his voice. “If lies are what help you sleep at night, sweetheart, by all means, continue.”

At the door, she stole a glance at him. “I guess that makes two of us, doesn’t it?”

She saw something flare in his eyes, but just as quickly, it disappeared. The mask was back. With a snort, Jezebel left Ramsey Stone to his own devices.

***

He was late.

Ramsey checked his sleek black and silver
Tag Heuer
watch for the second time since his arrival at The Coffee Shop. Fifteen minutes late. For a man who was always punctual, and known for that trait, Ramsey knew the slight was on purpose. He’d had no missed calls or messages. He’d give Kwan until 10:30, and then he would leave, secure in the knowledge that he no longer had an ally in the older man.

Lifting his half-finished mug of coffee to his lips, Ramsey allowed his gaze to roam. He could hear faint chatter from the other side of the café where patrons stopped by to grab their morning beverages, but the right side had been reserved especially for this meeting. Four of his men manned different corners of the semi-enclosed room. They were wary, ears and eyes alert, hands tense around their waistbands.

He’d just finished his Colombian black when the sound of shoes hitting the wooden floor brought his attention back to the entranceway. Kwan moved to him purposefully, his face a cold mask under his thick, graying hair. He didn’t speak as he pulled out the chair opposite Ramsey and sat. His men fanned out around the room as well, each taking a close position, but not too close to Ramsey’s men.

“You’re late.”

At Ramsey’s observation, Kwan’s lips curled up and he bared his teeth. In no way did Ramsey mistake it for a smile.

Before he could answer, a waif-thin teenager wearing the black and gold uniform of the shop walked over to them. She dipped her head respectfully to Kwan and asked for his order. The old man waved her away like he was brushing a fly from his space. Flustered, the girl looked to Ramsey.

“Thank you. I’ll send for you if we need anything.”

With a nod, she took his mug and retreated quickly.

“Why did you ask me to come here?” Kwan demanded, leaning forward and glaring at Ramsey.  

Ramsey smiled, which only made the man’s eyes harder. “You had a meeting with
Chang
Chul-Moo a few days ago.” At Kwan’s lifted brow, Ramsey continued, “What did you two discuss?”

The older man inhaled swift and sharp. A few breaths later, he leaned back in his chair, seeming to lose some of his tension. Ramsey wasn’t fooled. Kwan was of his grandfather’s ilk. Men like him were always coiled, even at their most ‘relaxed.’

“Is that what
this
is about?” Kwan asked.

At Ramsey’s lifted brow, he waved a hand in the air. “Why I am suddenly being treated like a stranger by my own family?”

When Ramsey didn’t answer, Kwan leaned forward again. “You listen to me,
boy
. I may be many things, but I am not disloyal. Family comes first and as long as you have my daughter in yours, you are part of
my
family.”

Unperturbed, Ramsey asked, “What did you two discuss?”

“You don’t get to question my loyalty―”

“I
am
questioning your loyalty,” Ramsey interrupted. “I’m questioning why Chang Chul-Moo has been meeting with the heads of various families, one after the other, after Kim Hyun-Bin went missing.”

“He mentioned that.” Kwan’s eyes narrowed to slits. “He thinks it was you.”

Ramsey smiled. “It was.”

Kwan looked shocked and he couldn’t blame him. Even gangsters had rules, and at the top of the list was that family was untouchable. The older man shook his head and glared at Ramsey. “Kim was his son-in-law!”

“Lily was your granddaughter.”

He drew back as if slapped, but Ramsey held his stare. “What are you saying?”

“You know what I’m saying.”

The white noise of faint chatter and the easy wind outside, was the only sound heard for long moments as Kwan’s shock gave way to anger, then rage. His face pinched, his mouth thinned, and he finally spoke, “You’re certain?”

“Very.”

“How certain?”

The old man wanted hard facts and Ramsey obliged, describing Lily’s death, the lilies tossed from the car window, Kim’s hunting Jezebel, his plan to torture and murder Jezebel and his child.

“And Lily?”

“He eventually admitted involvement.”

Kwan nodded slowly. “Chang attacked your family, my family.”

It was clear to anyone with a working brain that this was a chain of events, a sequence meant to bring him down. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why else? He wants his power back.”

At the man’s confused look, Ramsey went on, “He was railroaded into agreeing to my business proposition.” Months ago, Ramsey had gone to Seoul to negotiate a partnership between himself, Kwan and Chang. It was legitimate, although it would be funded by copious amounts of unlaundered money left over from Kwan’s, Chang’s, and his grandfather’s reign. The future was in startups, in creative thinking and new technology, and with the money sitting in chests and barrels, and not earning any interest, Ramsey saw a win-win situation for them all. Because it was his idea and he was putting down more capital, and taking on the risk in washing the money before it went into the company, he wanted 51% of the shares. Kwan had taken 25% and Chang had been left with 24%. This way, they would put the money to use and turn a profit. Additionally, having the relationship would keep everyone pacified and in their respective corners, or so he’d naively thought. He’d treated two old-school gangsters like businessmen.

Kwan shook his head in disgust. “What are you going to do about the situation?”

“I intend to handle it.” He didn’t have to go further than that. They spoke the same language, understood the meaning.  

“When?”

“Soon.”

Kwan inhaled sharply and nodded. “Do it soon or I’ll do it for you.” He stood, but paused. Sadness fell from him in waves. “How’s my girl?”

“As good as she can be in light of the situation.”

He nodded. “I want to see her.”

“You will, after I’ve secured my family.”

The man grew angry. “She’s my daughter.”

“Yes, and your daughter, my brother’s wife, is under my protection at the moment.” Ramsey stood as well, putting him head and shoulders above Kwan. “Let me protect her, Kwan. Let me protect
our
family.”

Kwan held his gaze for what seemed like hours, before a reluctant smile curved his lips. There was no humor in it. “You don’t trust anyone do you, Ramsey? Not even family.” He held out his hand, and Ramsey shook it. “Your grandfather chose well. He chose himself.”

***

“…zebel…Jezebel…”

She jumped, clutching her chest as she came awake, stretched her eyes wide and looked around. Where was she? On a lounge chair? In a garden? It was so warm and birds were chirping. The easy chortle of laughter brought her attention to the woman who sat next to her. Hannah seemed more amused than anything else. “I don’t know when you fell asleep, but you seem too disoriented for just a light doze.”

At her confused stare, Hannah continued, grinning all the while, “One moment I was telling you  how I met Ramsey’s father at Cambridge, and the next, you’re snoring.”

Right.
She was in the indoor garden with Hannah, who’d been telling her the story of how she, a South Korean student, had come to marry an Egyptian man. Jezebel remembered Hannah mentioning studying at Cambridge and meeting Ramsey’s father there, but that was it.

Embarrassed, she managed a scratchy, “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I should apologize for exhausting you further with those stories.” She chuckled. “You’re probably tired from walking around with that belly, and not to mention the night you had night before last.”

When Jezebel’s eyebrows shot into her skull, Hannah smiled and patted her arm. “The thunderstorm, Jezebel, remember?”

She didn’t remember the thunderstorm but she remembered telling Hannah she hadn’t heard it. Deciding it was best to keep silent on the matter, she did just that.

“Tell you what, why don’t you go upstairs and lie down for a few hours?” She patted Jezebel’s arm again. “I’ve neglected Ike, my husband, enough as is, so I’ll give him a call and talk his ears off instead.” Hannah stood and helped Jezebel to her feet, leading her toward the entranceway. Jezebel’s brow furrowed when Vince, who’d been seated next to the door, stood and waited for her to pass. Why was he there? When did he get there? Where was Ramsey?

She looked over her shoulder and he smirked. As if she hadn’t seen the man, Hannah continued, “Ike’s probably looking into ways to annul the marriage by now…”

***

The rest of the meetings went smoothly.

Kwan had been the one he was most concerned about, and their encounter had placated Ramsey as to where the man’s loyalties were. Every other meeting was a formality, him showing face, letting them know that despite the picture Chang had painted, more than likely one of some Americanized hothead attacking his family without cause, he was very much Korean and his problem with Chang wouldn’t extend to them unless they brought themselves into the feud. Most seemed relieved, and Ramsey didn’t anticipate any problems from them, though he kept alert to the possibility.

His next step was repaying Chang Chul-Moo in kind. Chang was of his grandfather’s time, a man accustomed to sitting at the head of a dynasty. Ramsey intended to destroy him, wipe out his legacy, but before he did that, before Chang left this world for whichever hell he’d earned, Ramsey was going to crush his spirit.

***

The twins were with their mother.

Too big to be lifted, the six year olds ran to keep up with her quick, purposeful strides. Both ahead and behind them were four men whose eyes seemed to scan every inch of the parking lot. Standing in the darkened alcove of the underground parking lot, he waited.

“
Omma
!” one of the twins screeched, tugging at her hand as if trying to stop her quick pace.

The other soon joined in, whimpering and hiccupping in what was the beginning of a wail. 

The woman, beautiful, slim, and incredibly flustered, only walked faster. They were closing in on his hiding place now, close to her Lexus SUV, when the man bringing up the rear fell. As the other turned to the sound, there was a pop and a splash of blood pitched from his temple. He went down instantly. The other two turned at the commotion and began screaming to the woman. A bullet caught the one closest to him in the neck. Before he could hit the ground, two bullets ripped through the chest of the last man standing.

The woman turned on her heels, gripped her children close, and began to run for the Lexus. Only then did he step from his hiding place, grabbing her around the middle and placing the chloroform-covered handkerchief against her mouth and nose.

“Don’t fight it,” he whispered as she bucked against him, clawing at his gloved hand and trying to ram her rose-scented head into his face. He watched as several car doors opened and masked men stepped out, harnessing guns with silencers at their tips. “That’s it.” She bucked again once, twice, and then went limp. “Sleep.”

Seconds later, he was kneeling before two wailing children.

***

Jezebel gasped as the cold gel was applied to her belly but managed a smile soon after as a strong, steady heartbeat filled the room and an image of a tiny face appeared on the LCD screen.

When Ramsey said he’d bring the doctor to her, Jezebel had been more than skeptical since there was heavy machinery involved in a checkup. Barely three days later, Dr. Chen, OB-GYN, and a team of assistants, including a scrub nurse and technicians, rolled an ultrasound machine into the spa room on the first floor and hooked it up.  By the time Jezebel arrived downstairs, the room smelled like a hospital, disinfectant clean, and even looked like the interior of one.